Statement to the Legislature

The Honourable Sandra Pupatello
Minister of Economic Development and Trade

Ontario-Alberta Oil Sands Mission

Queen’s Park
November 28, 2006

Check against Delivery

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Mr. Speaker,

I have just returned from a very successful mission to the Alberta Oil Sands to capitalize on opportunities for Ontario manufacturers.

The oil sands project has meant unprecedented economic growth in Alberta, creating a fierce demand for everything from skilled labour to industrial supplies.

Alberta companies need thousands of workers to construct these facilities and added manufacturing capacity from across Canada.

Opportunities for growth are opening up in a big way, and we’d like to be part of it.

There are more than $100 billion in long-term projects over the next 10-20 years, and I want to ensure Ontario manufacturers play a major role in meeting Alberta’s capacity demands to keep projects on time and on budget.

There was tremendous interest in this mission across Ontario and in fact, on short notice, 27 manufacturers joined me in Alberta.

I had excellent meetings Alberta’s economic development minister Clint Dunford and intergovernmental affairs minister Gary Mar.

We talked about the Alberta Oil Sands project, and how there are benefits for all of Canada, including Ontario manufacturers. 

Ontario has tremendous manufacturing capacity.

More than one million Ontarians work in manufacturing.

Ontario manufacturers not only have the capacity, but the skill and expertise to meet the needs of Alberta companies. 

The potential for partnerships is great, for both Ontario and Alberta.

It’s important that we establish new partnerships across the country and match Alberta companies with Ontario suppliers.
 
And that’s exactly what we started on this mission.

For years, governments and countries have geared their alliances on a north/south axis. 

That’s what economies dictated.

But now opportunities for partnerships exist within the borders of our own country – between east and west.
 
It’s important that we find “made-in-Canada” solutions.  

As our Finance Minister Greg Sorbara indicated in his recent Fall economic Statement, we should encourage inter-provincial trade by matching the industrial needs in Alberta with the industrial capacity in Ontario. 

We should also explore the merits of joining the Alberta–British Columbia trade agreement.

Mr. Speaker, this is not simply about Ontario’s interests, or Alberta’s interests.

It’s part of the process of nation building and what we as partners can do to help each other grow and prosper.
My colleague, the Honourable Harinder Takhar, Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Ontario, worked to establish stronger partnerships between regions across Canada when he visited Alberta and British Columbia three weeks ago.

In the meantime, we are working closely with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, and the Canada and Alberta governments.

We are encouraging Ontario manufacturers to participate in the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters National Buyer/Seller Forum in Edmonton next March.

It’s an excellent opportunity for Ontario suppliers and Alberta companies to be matched in future phases of the Alberta Oil Sands project.

At the same time we are supporting our manufacturing sector through the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy, which, in the first phase alone has created $187 million in investments and 600 jobs.

New investments will be announced shortly as we continue to encourage companies to invest in leading edge technologies and processes. 

Mr. Speaker, we recognize that we must be proactive if we want prosperity in every region of the province.

The high Canadian dollar affects export sales. 

High energy costs have a significant impact on our small and medium-sized businesses.

Global competition is fierce and will continue.

Our government is investing in programs to help Ontario manufacturers and all sectors across the province succeed.
Our broad strategy as a government is to build on our education and health care system, stable energy, and infrastructure.

All of these efforts lay the groundwork for Ontario to attract new investment and expand its reach around the world.

Working together, with our shared expertise, we can turn opportunities into reality, like the Alberta Oil Sands project.

Our government is hopeful that Ontario and its partners across Canada will prosper in this new and exciting era.

Alberta’s boom has created a challenge for Alberta companies to keep up.

Ontario is up to the challenge.
 
As a government we’re doing everything we can to seize the moment. 

We know that if we nurture those partnerships between Alberta companies and Ontario suppliers its good for Alberta, its good for all of Canada, and its great for Ontario. 

Thank you.